Patrick O'Connell

Bailie's 17th Birthday

Today my daughter Bailie turns 17.

Thank you for her God.

Valentine's Day 2012

Ahh Valentine's Day. Today my wife Nancy and I have been together for 25 Valentine Days. We met when we were teenagers and scrawled soupy love poems on cheap greeting cards and gave them to each others. Valentine's Day used to be about gifts and cards and chocolates and going out to eat.

But not anymore. These days, we spend quality time together. No chocolates or cards or gifts. We do eat dinner together (because we still have to eat) but mostly we eat at home.

Our lackadaisical attitude toward Valentine's Day isn't because we don't celebrate our love. In fact quite the opposite. When you're married to a woman like my wife you find an opportunity to celebrate whenever you can.

Happy Valentine's Day babe. I love you.

 

 

Nurture Them

Our son Cormac began his acting career last night. He played the 'Beast' of Beauty and the Beast with a local CYT group.

The production was entertaining; the kids did great; Cormac had a blast.

I am reminded is God has given each of my kids have unique talents and abilities. And part of my job as their Daddy is to find them, nurture them, and celebrate them.

We didn't plan that one of our kids would be thespian. Our daughter Bailie, would never be comfortable on stage. Declan would prefer to write the play. But Cormac, well he just loves to make people laugh. He loves doing imitations and when he smiles he makes you want to smile right back. So I guess acting is perfect for him.

Cormac was in his element last night. His friendly, outgoing personality were on display for everyone to see. I saw another side of my son that I am just now getting to see on a regular basis. I am so excited for him.

Cormac had invited some of our friends to be be with him.They were and that made him happy. I think they would agree that last night we witnessed my son begin exploring one of the paths life might take him.

 

 

Some Changes

Our son Declan was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes this week. This means we will need to help him regulate his blood sugar levels. Counting carbohydrates, injecting insulin, testing his blood, are all now part of our daily routine. If we don't do this, bad things can happen.

We are also launching a new campus in Liberty this weekend. My friend, colleague, and brother in Christ, Nate Williams, is the Campus Pastor.

There are some other pretty cool things happening in my life. It's definitely a season of change.

All of these 'changes' have inspired me to write. I am going to try and do most of it here. (At least that's the plan.)

Music Lessons

We finally have Bailie and Declan enrolled in music lessons. Ever since leaving Chicago we've been looking for new teachers and now seem to have found them.

Bailie is playing the flute. Although she is doing very well in band, we have have talked a great deal about challenging herself to do more with her instrument. She plays very beautifully and now has her eye on the district band.

Declan is picking up the piano exactly where he left off last year. He returned from his lesson tonight and showed me what he learned. I am sensing a new enthusiasm in him for the instrument.

Long before the kids were around, Nancy and I promised one another that we would urge them to play instruments. Both of us regret not having taken one up when we were younger. ( I mess around with a guitar but haven't made much progress.) 

We are a music-loving family and it's great that the kids are filling our house with music.

Just the boys

Just me and the boys this weekend.

Nancy and Bailie are off at junior high camp and won't return until Saturday evening. So I get some quality time with my sons: Declan and Cormac.

I am having a blast. We've been hanging out, staying up late, watching movies and eating junk food--well if you consider yogurt and bananas junk food. We grilled steak last night night. This morning and went to the park and worked out together.

For the past two nights they slept in my bed with me. In the morning I wake up with my boys laying all over me. I love it!

Last night, before going to bed, we went outside and did some star-gazing. Cormac asked, "why did God make the stars so far away." I tried to explain the vastness of the universe. He said, "I don't get it." Declan threw in that God was even bigger. "I still don't get it," Cormac said.

We've been talking quite a bit about God this weekend. I suppose it's because Nancy is off serving Restore and I am off to Haiti next week. They ask LOTS of questions. I do my best to answer them. Declan loves to read the Bible and so will go there for answers. Cormac loves to pray. He calls them his 'Dear God prayers.' We've spent the last few minutes of the each day praying together. Cormac prayed that I would travel to and return safely from Haiti.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I am really learning to cherish my boys. I mean, I've always loved them of course, but God has helped me see my relationship with them in eternal context. I pray for all of my children ALL of the time. Being their earthly father is an awesome blessing God has bestowed on me. I am their spiritual coach. I understand this now.

I will keep praying that God grants me the wisdom to do the job well.

Neighborhood secret

Chances are, your neighborhood holds a secret...

...place that is.

Perhaps it's a park, or a great place to eat; or maybe it's a coffee shop. Whatever it is, it's a secret, and once you find it your life is better because of it.

For me, it's a pool.

During the winter months, our friends in the neighborhood had told us about this really cool pool. But I kept thinking a pool is a pool--so what. They assured us that all of our neighbors would spend their summer poolside. Furthermore, they told us that the kids would love it.

Then summer arrived and indeed, everyone in my neighborhood was going to this pool, that is everyone  except for my family. After some debate my wife and I agreed that it would be good for her to buy a pass to the pool for the her and the kids. (I assured her that I wouldn't be going and not to worry about me.)

Soon myy wife and kids starting return from their afternoons at the pool with hyperbolic claims of 'the greatest pool' and 'it's awesome Dad' and 'it's so close,' Still, I refused to go. You see, I really don't like pools. I burn easily and I am afraid of the water because--well--I just know the little kids have been doing their business in the there. I explained that it's  just a pool, that they were probably getting all sorts of diseases, and thank you very much but I wouldn't be going any time soon.

That is until last week--when I experienced it all for myself.

Our daughter chose to go to the pool for family day. The one rule of family day is that we all must do whatever the activity planner plans. (Although we are still debating whether or not we should spend money on family night, but that's another post.) So off to the pool we went.

And man did I have a blast.

This pool has is an Olympic-sized swimming pool (12 feet deep in one part); two HUGE water-slides; a lazy river; a kiddie pool; diving boards, and plenty of chairs. The staff keeps the place spotless. Most importantly, there are oodles of life-guards. The cost is reasonable ($8 for the day) and really cheap if you purchase a summer pass.

I spent the afternoon swimming with my kids, going down the water-slides, and jumping off the diving boards. I went back to my pool chair and lay down for a snooze. Before dozing off, I smiled and realized that I didn't care what all of those kids had been doing in the pool after all.

I understand the pool wasn't really a secret--seems everyone in the neighborhood knew about it except for me. But now that I aware of it, it's like I've discovered something.

I encourage you to find that undiscovered place in your own neighborhood. Try it, even if you think you won't like it. You'll be glad you did.

Family night

For the last two months my family has segregated Monday evenings as 'family night.'

The intentional focus on time together has resulted in some wonderful experiences.

I have longed for such focused time with my family for years.

As a church planter it seems all but essential at this point.

Family summit?

Do you have a family summit?

Perhaps you should?

Check out this post from my friend Kirsten Strand for some inspiration.

Every year, she and her family go away and review their experiences together. They chart a course for the coming year.

Summits are something we all should be doing.

Mom is Visiting

My Mom is coming for a visit this weekend!

It's her first trip to KC--ever and I am really excited. I can't wait to show her around. She's also excited to check out the service at Restore. I recall that when I first told her I was going to move to KC to help start a church she didn't freak out. Rather she did what she's always done--encouraged me. This was a great comfort to me and a circumstance I know God was all over.